Scottish independence: Union flag could be red, white … but not blue

THE Union flag could be reduced to just red and white if Scotland became independent, an adviser to the Royal household on heraldry has said.

Clive Cheesman, the Richmond Herald at the College of Arms, which drew up the current version of the Union flag, said that there was a “very strong argument in favour of changing it” if Scots backed independence in the 2014 referendum.

Mr Cheesman said that removing the Saltire in the event of Scotland leaving the Union “would certainly make sense and work in design terms”. He said: “That is a very good example of the knotty problem we would face on the dissociation of the Union.”

First Minister Alex Salmond has already strongly dissociated himself from the Union flag as he attempts to increase support for Scottish independence in the run-up to the referendum.

During the recent Diamond Jubilee celebrations, he said that the royal standard of Scotland should fly over Scottish Government buildings, rather than the Union flag.

ANDREW WHITAKER